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fspinney
Posted April 3, 2013
I received this book as part of the read to review program. The summary sounded interesting and I thought it might be a good read. I was pleasantly surprised. This book was not a good read, but a great read. Jason does a great job developing his characters and making the reader either hate or love them. This book kept me guessing through several twists and turn. The thing I loved the most about this book was that it was so different from so many of the cookie cutter books that are out there in this genre. Jason took a simple premise and create a unique tale. I can't wait for his next book. If you haven't read this book and you like a good horror story, do yourself a favor and get this book.
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Anonymous
Posted March 6, 2013
I received “What Hides Within” from the author, Jason Parent, with the expectation that I would provide an honest review. As I an avid reader of books that fall within the horror genre I feel like I have read it all. I was happy to have my faith in innovation restored by this story. With this book, Parent does a great job of taking reader expectations and turning them on their head. In the spirit of not spoiling the story I won’t discuss much of the plot and actual story line. I will say that comparisons to “Charlotte’s Web” that I had seen prior to reading the book were, to me, unfounded. The spider in this book does not have clear and magnanimous intentions for Clive, the protagonist. Where many of the characters do really bad things, you find yourself rooting for them, hoping that they will redeem themselves. There are multiple story lines that come together as the story builds, including some poignant and spot-on descriptions of office politics that actually made me cringe as I read about them. The character development and story pacing are effective and the book builds to a climax that I thought I had anticipated, only to be surprised a couple of times. In a world of cookie cutter vampires and zombies, it was refreshing to experience a fresh perspective on horror from a new writer. I for one am very anxious to see what the follow up to this book is.
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Posted January 18, 2013
I had no clue where this story was headed! I chose not to read the summary, making for a more interesting surprise.
What Hides Within begins with Clive Menard, a previous patient angry at the physician who botched up the surgery on his brain. A great first chapter that creates questions in the reader’s mind that are slowly answered over the course of the novel. It isn’t until the final chapter that all are finally concluded.
The story then pulls the reader back in time to when Clive’s real trouble began. For anyone suffering from arachnophobia, this might not be the story for you. I suffer from this fear, yet was fascinated by the plot. Grotesque as the idea was, I found myself compelled to read, to the end and put my mind at rest with the resolution. At least, I had hoped for a resolution. A short way into the story, I felt the urge to grab a Q-tip and give my auditory canal a good cleaning! Was my ear plugged? That twinge of pain in my head, is it merely Jason messing with my mind?
Yes, gross as it was, my morbid curiosity pushed me to continue. Clive, an ordinary man, wished for a better life, one with a better paying job and a relationship with the girl he loved. The saying “careful what you wish for” rings true in his case. He found himself in extraordinary circumstances. Initially frightening, he discovered the immediate benefits of listening to his new companion. His life improved, his wishes granted. But for how long?
What Hides Within will take drag you along, willing or otherwise, on Clive’s journey as he discovers exactly what deal he’s made, with whom and what it will cost him in the end. Lessons within the story will be learned, but will it be too late? At least one thing can be learned by the reader: choose your terms carefully.
The energy of the book kept the story moving. The thoughts and actions of the characters were, at times, amusing. In the end, I was left feeling the story resolved, yet potential for more. Those who enjoy a thrilling, yet dark novel will enjoy What Hides Within.
Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Anonymous
Posted August 4, 2012
I just finished reading this and I really liked it. This book is a fast-paced thriller with many twists and turns that will not only surprise you but also entertain you with a bit of unique and twisted humor. It is a rather original and suspenseful story that will appeal to fans of horror/thrillers.
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Overview
A disheveled Clive stands alone in a hospital waiting room. A series of incidences have led him to undergo unnecessary neurosurgery. A voice inside Clive's head nags him...